Educate Yourself… Somewhat…

The DAWN Group of Newspapers is holding its 4th Education Expo at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad, this weekend, i.e. February 24 – 25 2007.

Students and their elders in large numbers throng the exhibition on the first day, collecting brochures and other literature and freebies on different institutions. For some it was an exercise to alleviate certain boredom of sitting at home but there were a few concerned individuals worriedly walking along with their educational documents in hand wondering what option would be feasible for their future. Besides local institutions, varsities from the world over including the USA, UAE, Australia, Canada, and Ireland have set up stalls with one section of the exhibition devoted entirely to universities in the UK. The United States Education Foundation, British Council and the HEC also have stalls there to provide people with on the spot guidance regarding their queries.

What with the trend of so many young Pakistanis dreaming of going abroad, believing that they have a better future there, everybody wants in on the cash cow that is foreign education. So even if you have nothing to do, and all done with any education you might have wished for, visit simply for the sake of the spectacle that is there. It may serve to make you more ambitious and if you are a student looking for more options, this is the place to be. The expo will continue through Sunday, from 12 to 7pm.

No visas, I’m afraid… The visas are an issue dealt solely by the British High Commission. Most university representatives were of the opinion that if one’s application and documentation is complete, the visa should not be an issue. There are a few institutes that have Pakistani Agencies/Consultants representing them that take responsibility for your admission and visa but I don’t think even they guarantee it and they charge a fee for it.